Can you fail a home inspection?

Home inspecting is a mysterious industry. After-all, the only time you think about it is when you're either trying to buy or sell your home. With that comes some misconceptions about home inspections. So is passing/failing one of them?

Well, let's break down why you have a home inspection in the first place. Home inspections are 'visual inspections of the homes major systems/components'. You can find those systems/components on my website. There is one keyword in that statement that many people tend to overlook. It is a VISUAL inspection. This means that anything that is not visible will not be reported on.

So why even get a home inspection? Well, there are many reasons to get a home inspection throughout the life of your home, but we'll focus on the the buying/selling process. If you intend to sell your home, a home inspection can drastically increase your knowledge of the technical aspects of the home so you can better disclose those items to potential buyers. Having your home pre-inspected before listing will significantly increase buyers trust and will help you find the right buyer more quickly.

If you intend to buy a home, you already know that you love the home. That's why you picked it. What you don't know is if the home is structurally and technically sufficient. This is where the home inspector comes in. As home inspectors, it's our job to shed light on the defects of a home. Some inspectors go as far as to suggest monitoring specific items, upgrading elements of the home, and even simply educating the buyer on things that should be maintained over time to prevent deterioration during the lifespan of the home. This is a sign of a good inspector!

So what if your home inspector finds a bunch of defects? Does that mean your new home will fail the inspection. Not exactly. Most home inspectors will never go as far to say, "You should, or shouldn't buy this home." After-all it's not part of our job description. We are simply there to educate you as the buyer or seller on the condition of the home, and it's your responsibility to decide whether the conditions fit your agenda or if you should move along and find a more suitable home. I will admit, as an inspector, it can be difficult to keep opinions out of the equation, but I don't have the same goals and aspirations that you do. I can't predict what you want in your home, so I shouldn't be offering any concrete statements on the decision for you to purchase or sell.

However, there are certain conditions that have to be met depending on your financing agency and location. These are different for everyone, and you should educate yourself on the conditions that need to be met for you to be able to purchase or sell your home. These most commonly come into play with financing agencies. If your finance partner demands a termite inspection, be sure to educate yourself on the conditions of receiving the loan offer if termites are found within the homes structure. These conditions will have to be met in order to receive the offer.

Even these conditions don't make a home pass or fail an inspection. Reason being, there is no hard and fast line for a pass/fail scenario. Homes are like vehicles. They're ever changing. They could be working perfectly one day and breakdown the next. Without strict guidelines on the criteria needed to pass an inspection, there is no real way for an inspector to give that conclusion.

I find that home inspections can often be confused with other industries. Although home inspectors can be used by insurance companies during the claims process and potentially even appraisal companies, a general home inspection for the sake of buying and selling a home isn't going to give a pass/fail rating. If you happen to get one from an inspector, you have to take into account that you're getting an opinion and not simply empirical analysis of the home's condition.

So, in short, only YOU can pass or fail your home during the inspection process because only you know your goals and aspirations. But remember to take into account the conditions needed to be met for your partnering financial institution to give you the loan you require for the purchase of the home. The most important step in buying or selling a home is education, education, education...and we're here to help!